Chapter 173

Only after returning to her room did Thalia notice the message Rupert had sent half an hour earlier.

Thalia: [Yes, I have. Did you need to speak with me about something?]

Rupert: [Mind if I give you a ring?]

Thalia: [Go ahead.]

The next second, Rupert’s call came through.

“What’s up, Rupert?” Thalia asked.

“I’m terribly sorry, Ms. Winters. I had no idea my aunt had invited the whole clan today,” Rupert said apologetically. “She only told me that you’d found Lena when she was lost in the park and wanted to take you to dinner as a thank you. She mentioned that since we’re partners and fairly well-acquainted, she was worried you might feel a bit awkward without me there, so she asked me along. She never mentioned she’d roped in my grandparents as well. I’m truly sorry about that.”

Thalia laughed, “I was wondering what this was all about. Don’t worry yourself over it. I’m not exactly shy.”

Rupert said somewhat embarrassedly, “I was worried we might have thrown you in at the deep end. My aunt can be rather full-on. My parents have been abroad for years, and my aunt has taken it upon herself to sort out my love life. She’s forever arranging blind dates for me. When she met you, she got the wrong end of the stick about our relationship. I’ve explained it to her, but it seems to have gone in one ear and out the other…”

Thalia was momentarily taken aback. She hadn’t imagined Amanda had such intentions.

After processing the meaning behind Rupert’s words, Thalia hesitantly asked, “So your aunt is trying to play matchmaker with us?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the call. The man’s breathing was clearly audible. After a few seconds, Rupert gave an ambiguous “Mm-hmm.”

Thalia found it somewhat absurd. She laughed, “Your aunt might be disappointed, I’m afraid. I don’t have any plans to date at the moment. The law firm has just opened, and there’s loads to do. Right now, I’m completely focused on my career.”

Hearing this response, a flash of disappointment crossed Rupert’s eyes, and he silently sighed. He had actually been testing the waters with what he’d just said, trying to gauge Thalia’s feelings. Although her answer was what he had expected, he couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

After all these days of interaction, he had confirmed one thing: Thalia had completely forgotten him.

After being rejected during his university confession, he had avoided contact with women his age for a long time. Several years later, at a graduation dinner, a classmate who had been pursuing him confessed her feelings again. The girl was drunk and crying her eyes out. The girl had been pursuing him since Freshers’ Week, for four years straight. That night, looking at the girl with her tear-reddened eyes, he thought it was time to move on, so he agreed to give it a try with her.

If falling for someone for the first time counted as first love, then Thalia Winters was undoubtedly his first love. But if the first relationship counted as first love, then that girl was his first love. He had tried very hard to develop feelings for someone else. After three months of dating, he realized he still couldn’t do it. When he broke up with her, he offered the girl a lot of compensation, but she didn’t accept anything.

“Rupert Lysander, you don’t have a heart.” This was the last thing his ex-girlfriend said to him. At the time, he remained silent, saying nothing. The girl left. She didn’t take the £200,000 breakup fee, nor the designer bags he had bought her.

“Rupert, we are colleagues and friends,” Thalia paused, then continued, “But we won’t be romantic partners.”

“Not even a glimmer of hope?” Rupert asked in a lowered voice, the words coming out with difficulty.

Thalia almost thought she was hearing things. How could Rupert say something like this?

In their daily interactions, she had never sensed that Rupert had any special feelings for her. Perhaps he was being pressured to settle down and wanted to find someone suitable, and she just happened to be in his line of sight at this time. That must be why Rupert was asking such a question. Thalia told herself this.

Faced with Rupert’s question, Thalia didn’t know what to say. After pondering, she simply said, “I’m sorry.”

Rupert’s heart sank to the bottom.

“Forget I said anything. Blame it on the wine,” Rupert’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Get some rest. Goodnight, Ms. Winters.”

“Goodnight.”

Thalia hung up the phone. Rupert stared down at the ended call. His heart ached dully. Rejected again. How could they say he didn’t have a heart? It’s just that his heart only had room for one person. But that person would never see him.

The next day, after breakfast, Thalia went upstairs to Lucy’s room to draw with her. She took out the pink hairpins she had bought for Lucy. “Lucy, this is a little gift from your sister. Do you like them?” The hairpins were the same style as the ones she had given Lena. When she bought them, she knew her sister would love these sparkly pink hairpins.

Sure enough, when Lucy saw the hairpins, her eyes lit up like stars, full of delight. “Wow, they’re gorgeous! Thanks sis.”

“Here, let me put them on for you.” Thalia placed the hairpins in her sister’s hair. “They look lovely on you.”

Victoria had said that Lucy’s mental state had improved significantly. The most noticeable change was that she no longer talked in her sleep or woke up crying. Thalia felt her sense of guilt ease a little.

Lunch was at the Winters home, with Victoria personally preparing a feast of dishes that both Lucy and Thalia loved. Thalia spent the entire Sunday at home playing with her sister. That evening, Thalia stayed overnight at the Winters residence. Early the next morning, she drove back to the law firm.

Upon seeing Rupert, Thalia greeted him casually: “Morning, Rupert.”

Rupert smiled and replied: “Morning.”

The atmosphere between them was the same as usual, as if that evening conversation had never happened. Thalia went to her office and quickly immersed herself in work.

Just after finishing a statement of claim, the receptionist came to knock on her door. “Ms. Winters, there’s a client here to see you.”

Thalia was puzzled; she hadn’t scheduled any client meetings today. She rose and headed to the reception room. Opening the door, she saw a familiar face. Thalia’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Mr. Blackwood, what brings you here?”

Asher was wearing a blue-grey suit. His features were sharp, his expression impassive as he sat on the sofa, exuding an innate air of nobility. Upon seeing Thalia, the man’s stern gaze instantly softened. His lips moved as he greeted her: “Morning, Ms. Winters.”

Thalia’s brow creased. Asher stared directly at Thalia, the corner of his eye lifting slightly. “I’d like to engage your firm to handle several cases.”

Thalia: “…”

“If I’m not mistaken, Blackwood Group has an entire legal department full of solicitors who went to Oxford,” Thalia’s tone was professionally cool but with a hint of mockery. “Surely they can manage without our humble assistance?”

“Of course,” Asher’s lips curled slightly. “But I specifically want to work with you. That’s not a problem, is it?”